R: Ignorance is Bliss

In a 1742 ode, Thomas Gray wrote:

To each his suff'rings: all are men,

Condemn'd alike to groan,

The tender for another's pain;

Th' unfeeling for his own.

Yet ah! why should they know their fate?

Since sorrow never comes too late,

And happiness too swiftly flies.

Thought would destroy their paradise.

No more; where ignorance is bliss,

'Tis folly to be wise.

Whether it is better to know or not to know is a perennial question that torments mankind. Humans have developed a host of phrases to describe this burning desire of ours. “Ignorance is bliss” and “curiosity killed the cat” come to mind. The story of the Fall found in Genesis resonates with everyone. To both believers and unbelievers, it captures a fundamental truth of human nature: our imperfection.

We desire various things, erroneously believing they will make us happy when all they do is cause suffering. Knowledge or information is one of the most common examples. Despite being forbidden by God from eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, a serpent persuades Eve to taste the tree’s fruit and she convinces Adam to do the same. The possibility of knowledge was enough for Adam and Eve to give up paradise.

Those in the affirmative may argue that it is better for the soul to remain blissfully ignorant. If one shields himself or herself from harsh realities, he or she can remain innocent and maintain a more hopeful and pure perspective on the world. We must, of course, hear what is directly relevant to our lives, but beyond that, information runs the risk of damaging our character. Ignorance can help us maintain inner peace. To remain ignorant is to be happy and tranquil. It is best to avoid fear, anxiety, and stress. Likewise, some knowledge carries a burden. If one learns something, even against his or her will, there may be obligations associated with possessing that information. For this reason, ignorance also means simplicity. Isn’t the good life simple?

The negative in this debate might claim that knowledge is power. There is risk in exposing oneself to novel information, but it could allow for better decision-making. Or perhaps it can be ennobling to embrace the obligations associated with knowledge, even when obtained through dubious means. Occasionally, we are presented with information that is relevant but could haunt us. What another person said about us. What someone said about a family member or a friend. The dark reality of a situation we once viewed through rose-colored glasses. Those in the negative believe that, though it may distress us, it is better to know these pieces of information. Knowing these things empowers people to take a new course of action.

Is it possible to live the examined life while remaining ignorant? Is ignorance better for the soul? Ought we prefer blissful ignorance to informed awareness?